Spring Cleaning 101: Back to the Basics

We're thrilled spring is just around the corner! For many of us, the start of spring is the best time of year because the snow is melting, birds are chirping and the days are getting warmer. But with the coming warmth and sunlight we are also faced with the task of spring cleaning, one of the most heinous chores of the year. If you love spring, but hate spring cleaning, you may find our checklist of easily overlooked places to clean helpful. This way you can speed up the cleaning process and spend more time enjoying the great outdoors! Organize Your Closet
Winter jackets, sweaters and boots can quickly fill up and disorganize your closet. Now that spring has nearly sprung, you can pack away your bulky winter accessories to make room for your warmer weather clothes. Another simple way to keep your closet organized throughout the year is sorting through your clothes to find any that don’t fit or you don’t wear and donate them.

Show Your Floors Some TLC
Your floors go through a lot: dust, dirt, mud, debris, grass and grit. Because of the heavy traffic they face, it's a good idea to give your floors a deep cleaning at least once a year.

For carpets, begin by vacuuming to remove loose dirt. Then sprinkle baking soda over your carpet to help remove stains and odors and after about an hour, vacuum again. Finally, clean them with a carpet cleaning machine.

For hardwood floors, begin by vacuuming or dusting to pick up loose dust and debris. Dirt and grime build up on your floors over time that regular mopping won’t clean, so use a wood cleaning product to give your floors the deep clean they need.

Clean Out The Fridge
Over time, refrigerators can get really dirty. Smears, spills and dribbles from food unknowingly build up on your fridge's shelves and drawers over time, so it's important to give it a full cleaning every so often. Remove food from your fridge, tossing any that is old or expired, and take out all of the removable shelves and bins. Clean them with a disinfectant and allow them to completely dry before putting them back in your fridge. Be sure to clean the nooks and crannies inside your fridge, too. An old toothbrush works great for this!

Give Your House A Thorough Dusting
Doesn't it seem like dust is something that never completely goes away? Tackle that tricky dander with a deep dusting during spring cleaning. Use a microfiber cloth or mitt to clean surfaces, wall art, bookshelves, knick knacks and any ceiling fans. Drapery and blinds are often overlooked but they are huge dust collectors, so clean them off according to their washing instructions.

Sort Through The Pantry
When you actually stop and take a look at what is in your pantry, you might be surprised. It's easy for food to get pushed to the back of the closet and forgot about over time, so it's a good idea to sort through and organize your pantry. Get rid of all your expired food and organize everything else. Using bins, grouping similar foods together and labeling when food was opened can help keep things organized and reduce food waste.

There is a lot that goes into spring cleaning, but these five tips will help start your cleaning off on the right foot. What are the first areas in your home you tackle during spring cleaning? Share them with us in a comment, on our Facebook page, Google+ page or Tweet us!